Why is being on Insulin viewed as bad?

[Dennis]

Hi Kemo,

If your last HBA1C was January and your next doctor appointment isn't until July, then you need to get another HBA1C arranged before that appointment, otherwise your doc will have nothing on which to base an opinion (apart from very out of date information). Try and get a blood test appointment for 2 or 3 weeks before you see the doc to allow plenty of time for the results to come back.

 

[iHs]

(secretly hoping that another delivery method will be developed before I get there !)

I seem to remember reading something about the development of a nasal spray for insulin delivery, but don't recall where, try Google?

I think you are referring to Oralyn. Brilliant stuff. Available in India. Roll on when it becomes available in Europe and UK.

 

[cugila]

In January 2008, Pfizer ceased production of its inhaled insulin product Exubera.
NICE technology appraisal 113 on inhaled insulin for diabetes (types I and II) has therefore been made obsolete.

Pfizer have been letting doctors know that they should begin moving their patients off Exubera and onto other medicines that control high blood sugar levels. If you are worried about how you should control your blood sugar levels as a result of this announcement, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible to discuss your options for other blood sugar lowering medications.

25 January 2008

Oralyn appears to have only been licensed in various countries which have different standards to the UK. I have read elsewhere that there are some concerns about possible Lung damage with using this type of product - hence the delay !

I wouldn't hold your breath. :?

 

[hawalkden]

What gets to me is all the news about DT2 about how large people are at risk and it is giving diabetes on the whole a bad name. I feel that T2 suffers have brough it on themselves and people like me and my father who have T1 arent getting a bad name, because we get the condition due to a rubbish diet and being over weight and it is totally the oppiosite. People should stop being judgemental about people who have any condition and think about how it happens and not just say it is their own fault.
Also people say to T1s that they cant eat or drink this and that. Course they can because they know when to take their insulin. It gets to me so much because people see DT1 as a good thing because they loose weight but can eat sweets and chocolate when they don’t feel right. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
People should just see it from other angles and stop being so harsh. Also work places should promote people who have diabetes to work for them. unless they are at risk for example working in the Armed forces etc. I think people with diabetes aren’t disabled and if only they have it under control they can work anywhere but at the same time their employers should let them have the time for hospital appointments and deal with hypos if one happens.

 

[iHs]

In January 2008, Pfizer ceased production of its inhaled insulin product Exubera.
NICE technology appraisal 113 on inhaled insulin for diabetes (types I and II) has therefore been made obsolete.

Pfizer have been letting doctors know that they should begin moving their patients off Exubera and onto other medicines that control high blood sugar levels. If you are worried about how you should control your blood sugar levels as a result of this announcement, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible to discuss your options for other blood sugar lowering medications.

25 January 2008

Oralyn appears to have only been licensed in various countries which have different standards to the UK. I have read elsewhere that there are some concerns about possible Lung damage with using this type of product - hence the delay !
I wouldn't hold your breath. :?

Hello Ken

What lung damage? If Oralyn is sprayed towards the roof of the mouth and is absorbed in 5 seconds through the buccal cavity how does it cause problems for the lungs?

 

[cugila]

Lung damage - don't ask me ? I didn't write the reports.

If you trawl the scientific sites on the net you will find the info. I didn't save it but I will look for it again. I will post it if I can find it. Think it was about 2006/07.

I know where and how the spray is delivered, but minute particles apparently end up in your Lungs. Hence the concerns by the Scientists. It may well be that Oralyn is safer - I am not a Scientist.

Ken.

 

[kemo]

Hi Kemo,

If your last HBA1C was January and your next doctor appointment isn't until July, then you need to get another HBA1C arranged before that appointment, otherwise your doc will have nothing on which to base an opinion (apart from very out of date information). Try and get a blood test appointment for 2 or 3 weeks before you see the doc to allow plenty of time for the results to come back.

Hi to you Dennis Thanks for your advice I think I might just do that. Two weeks ago I had to go get the backs of my eyes photographed at my local Health Centre and when I mentioned this to the diabetic sister she actually said that she could do that for me and I could take the reading with me.
I still think that to go full time on to insulin would be a backward step though. :wink:

 

[Arunkumar27]

Insulin keeps from becoming diabetic, but high blood levels of insulin cause obesity, heart attacks and high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Your blood sugar level usually stays at below 115. When you eat, food is absorbed into your bloodstream, causing your blood sugar level to rise. When it reaches around 160, your pancreas is supposed to release enough insulin to keep your blood sugar level from rising higher. Higher blood sugar levels cause the circulating sugar to attach to the surface of cell membranes. Sugar, in itself is harmless, but after being attached to cell membranes for a while, it is converted to sorbitol, a poison that damages cell membranes and causes nerve damage resulting in blindness, deafness, loss of feeling, phantom pains, and permanent damage to kidneys and other tissues.

 

[eon]

Your blood sugar level usually stays at below 115. When you eat, food is absorbed into your bloodstream, causing your blood sugar level to rise. When it reaches around 160, your pancreas is supposed to release enough insulin to keep your blood sugar level from rising higher. Higher blood sugar levels cause the circulating sugar to attach to the surface of cell membranes. Sugar, in itself is harmless, but after being attached to cell membranes for a while, it is converted to sorbitol, a poison that damages cell membranes and causes nerve damage resulting in blindness, deafness, loss of feeling, phantom pains, and permanent damage to kidneys and other tissues.

Hi there Arunkumar27, Can you tell me what those numbers (115 and 160) are a measure of please ?
I'm familiar with my blood sugar meter measuring it as 5.5 mmol/L.

Also, sorbitol is an ingredient in sweets - is it not a problem when eaten ?
and do you have any links to the research regarding sorbitol please ?

cheers, Ian.

 

[Trinkwasser]

Hi there Arunkumar27, Can you tell me what those numbers (115 and 160) are a measure of please ?
I'm familiar with my blood sugar meter measuring it as 5.5 mmol/L.

Those are US numbers, divide by 18 to get the numbers most of the rest of the world uses

 

[martinsoton]

Hi everyone

I have gone the other way. I was diagnosed about 6/7 months ago, i was instantly been given insuline injections 4 times a day. I have struggled to stay in control, but now have been perscribed metaformin as well as levimir and novorapid. Is this normal?

 

[Trinkwasser]

Hi everyone

I have gone the other way. I was diagnosed about 6/7 months ago, i was instantly been given insuline injections 4 times a day. I have struggled to stay in control, but now have been perscribed metaformin as well as levimir and novorapid. Is this normal?

Depends, do you have your lipid panel results? Metformin is usually used to reduce insulin resistance, it's quite possible to have "double diabetes", Type 1 with IR, though not that common.

 

[SWMHO1]

It's really down to management - self management. Insulin is not a licence to eat anything and adust doses accordingly. I couldn't cope with the side effects of oral medication, and my specialist nurse suggested basal bolus insulin therapy. It has changed my life for the better. However I still monitor diet and maintain excercise as I did before. Even the injections become 'normal' every day things after a few weeks.
I think that if you approach the use of insulin with the right attitude, self control and good bloods monitoring, it's better thank relying on oral medication.
But that is only my personal view.....

Mk..

 

[Dennis]

Hi Mk (Mark?),

You are absolutely right about using insulin correctly. Unfortunately many people don't share your view and see the basal/bolus regime as carte blanche to eat whatever takes their fancy and then correct for it. These are the same people who also can't understand why their weight is ballooning, they struggle to control their BS, and are starting to see the effects of diabetic complications, but they either can't or just won't see the connection between their problems and their management.

If all diabetics on insulin shared your self-management approach there would be less need for forums such as this!

 

[Nemesis]

Dennis, why when you don't even use insulin do you feel you have the right to suggest that many insulin users take no real control of their diet and then whinge that they have put on weight?????

I do not understand why you feel the need to be quite so derogatory about other people.

From the posts of yours that you have made in the past you have said that you're not exactly of small stature yourself, so I would have thought that youy would be able to show a litle more respect to people. esp as you are a moderator.

Not all of us insulin users are eating from morning to night and see a daily increase when we stand on the scales.

My BMI is 21.6 what's yours????

 

[Fuggsy]

I must agree with nemesis on this.

We're not all porkers who think our use of insulin means we can eat what we want when we want and I take offence at Dennis's remarks

 

[martinsoton]

Yeah

I am a little insulted by Denis's comments. Im type 1. I train in a gym or cycling 5-6 times a week. I am physicly very fit, but have put on a little extra wieght since starting insulin treatment. Although there are diabetics that are not incontrol i think this forum shows alot of us are, so please dont tar is all with the same brush. I think this forum is so valuble to those incontrol and not incontrol. If you are a insulin dependant diabetic you will know you are not always 100% in control 100% of the time, so it is good to bounce ideas off of people.

Depends, do you have your lipid panel results? Metformin is usually used to reduce insulin resistance, it's quite possible to have "double diabetes", Type 1 with IR, though not that common.

Sorry what is lipid pannel results? Thanks for your reply.

 

[iHs]

I am also offended. There is no need for a moderator to make a comment like this.

I am equally annoyed over this comment too which I have deleted and posted below:-

Incidentally have you ever noticed that the majority of diabetics who are most opposed to low carb diets have very poor HBA1Cs? It does make you wonder how much of their opposition is fuelled by envy of the results! :mrgreen: Rather than get angry about it, maybe we should just feel sorry for them. :lol:

Dennis

I somehow resent your remark about those of us who do not low carb having rubbish control. My hba1c is currently at 6.4 and I am fairly happy with that. As I use insulin, if I try to get my a1c down any lower my daily bg readings will mostly be on 2 or 3 all the time which will then put me in a difficult position regarding hypos and my awareness completely going.

I have had and am still enjoying a normal life, eating food, injecting insulin.

 

[Administrator]

Let's not turn this into another mud-slinging match. There is clear disagreement in methods and approach, shall we leave it at that without another battle?

 

[Doczoc]

I think we can all be a little careless in how we post at times, I know I have, but here's to a new dawn eh?